Craig Hughes, a powerful Colorado Democratic operative, is leaving the Denver-based political firm RBI Strategies to spearhead a local branch of the national firm Hilltop Public Solutions.

“I’m very excited for this new opportunity,” Hughes said recently.

Hilltop Public Solutions is a national political and public affairs firm with offices from New York to Washington, D.C. and Billings, Mont.

Hughes played vital roles in helping President Barack Obama and Sen. Michael Bennet to victories in Colorado in recent years.

“I’ve been fortunate to help elect incredible leaders, from school board and state legislators, to the U.S. Senate and the Presidency,” Hughes wrote in an e-mail to supporters about his work at RBI Strategies. “With Hilltop, I’ll continue to work with political candidates, non profits, and corporations to fulfill their strategic and communication needs.”

Hilltop’s founder, Nick Baldick, has been close friends with Hughes since the 1990s.

“We worked together on the first Clinton campaign,” Hughes said, noting he will still share contacts and collaborate with RBI Strategies, which was founded by Rick Ridder more than 20 years ago.

Lynn Bartels thinks politics is like sports but without the big salaries and protective cups. The Washington Post's "The Fix" blog has named her one of Colorado's best political reporters and tweeters.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.